Woman expresses love for sewing at Alterations by Debra

Debra Baker works at one of her sewing machines at Alterations by Debra. Baker has been sewing and doing alterations for 25 years.

Torin Halsey/Times Record News
Debra Baker of Alterations by Debra works with Missy Jacobs and her wedding gown. Baker has 25 years of experience in sewing and alterations.

Torin Halsey/Times Record News
Alterations by Debra owner Debra Baker prepares to bustle a wedding gown worn by Missy Jacobs. Baker has operated her alterations shop in Fre-Mar Valley for three years but has been in the business for 25 years.

As a girl growing up in Clarksville, Tenn., Debra Baker would sit and watch her grandmother, Nancy Covington, sew clothing.

It piqued her interest, so much, in fact, that she enrolled in a home-economics class in high school.

"Granny sewed for herself," Baker said. "I watched her. She would bring patterns out and then would sew them together."

Watching the love and talent of her grandmother had a lot to do with Baker eventually opening a business here — Alterations by Debra.

"Professionally, I started doing it in the early 1990s," she said. "I started doing it a good 25 years ago. I took in jobs at home and was doing stuff for myself and my kids. I always made their outfits."

She started Alterations by Debra three years ago in a small suite in Fre-Mar Valley. Last year, she made the move to a larger area in the complex.

Before opening the business, Baker worked at Quality Cleaners, where she took care of alterations. During that time, she was forced to take off for about a month because of an illness, during which time she gave thought to opening her own business.

"I told my husband we needed to look for a shop to open a business," she said. "I wanted my own little shop ... a place to put things (sewing equipment) in and to have a place for customers to come in. I wanted a business environment."

The move paid off, she said. She kept pretty busy in the first location, but nothing like it is now.

"I have been real busy since I moved over here," Baker said. "I am starting to see more and more customers. It is to the point now where I have to be here and have set hours. It is from the grace of God. Without him, I wouldn't be here. And, seriously, I love what I do."

Baker specializes in wedding and special occasion dresses, and does alterations for women, children and men, along with military uniform patterns and sewing patches on leather clothing. And, she pointed out, "rush jobs are welcome."

The shop, which has a sewing room, office and fitting room, is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. It is also open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. It is located at 3100 Seymour Highway, suite 202, on the west side of Fre-Mar Valley. The telephone numbers are (940) 237-4537 and (940) 720-0719.

In addition to Wichita Falls and Lawton, Okla., her customer base includes several surrounding towns.

The 53-year-old was born and raised in Fort Campbell, Ky., where he father served in the Army.

"We lived in Clarksville, which is about 45 minutes from Memphis."

She graduated from Fort Campbell High School in 1974. Baker is the oldest of nine children.

She and her husband, Wayne, a disabled veteran who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, have been married 21 years. The couple has five children: Angela Acosta, 32, of Wichita Falls; Santos Acosta, 30, of Chicago; Kaleigh Perry, 21, of Wichita Falls; and Jenna Baker, 19, and Justin Baker, 18, both of Wichita Falls. They have six grandchildren.

She and her husband also owned and operated Baker's Auto Detailing for 10 to 15 years, working alongside each other. The couple phased the business out after Wayne suffered a heart attack, she said, but they have plans to open a detailing shop soon.

"He still does a little detailing every now and then. We are trying to open it again for our son (Justin)," she said. "We are trying to get him in business. Our son is really talented. He has his dad's techniques. We loved it. We are hard workers. People say we are hard workers."

Business editor Lee Anderson may be reached at (940) 763-7533 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. His e-mail address is andersonl(at)TimesRecord News.com.